>> i actually don't think those things are mutually exclusive, lakers lak alex. he ran as he did in 2008 on raising those top rates on taxes on income over $250,000. so i think this first offer was his way of saying this is the position i'd like to start from. and then the republicans are going to have to show that they're going to be able to meet him in a way that makes sense in order to get a deal before the end of the year. >> david, in your latest article you write "any political negotiation involves a good deal of bluster, particularly in washington. such discussions often involve a period of theatrical posturing, even as staffers continue to hammer out specifics behind closed doors." do you know what's going on behind closed doors right now? is it different than what we're hearing? >> well, the white house and both the hill will say we're still talking and our staffs are working on the specifics. but you saw the president go outside the beltway yesterday in one of these campaign-style events that he's done so well in the past several months winning the elec